Special Report: Amazing Arms

On the red carpet, on the big screen, on the covers of magazines -- there's a new eye-catching body part is taking center stage and women are doing whatever it takes to get it...

Jennifer Armstrong, Cambridge
"I can remember looking in the mirror when I would do these things and being embarrassed."

But not anymore, for one year Jennifer Armstrong has been arming herself with weights and results, surprising...

Jennifer Armstrong, Cambridge
"And all of a sudden a friend of mine said, ‘oh my God, I covet your arms, I want to have them’ and I said oh, so I was happy..."

Personal trainer Cary Sakaki admits arms are a focal point for many women working out...

Cary Sakaki, Boston Sports Club
"Girls come in with magazines and show me a picture and say I want her arms..."

He says for amazing arms you want to concentrate on the biceps in the front of the upper arm, the triceps in the back or the arm and the shoulders or deltoids to sculpt the area.

Carey suggests free weights for fast results... So let's start with the triceps.

Cary Sakaki, Boston Sports Club
"Ten, 15 reps and your going to want to do two, three sets of this."

For the biceps, typically you'll be lifting in a curling and pulling motion.

Cary Sakaki, Boston Sports Club
"Rep range, you're looking at anywhere between 10 and 15 reps."

And most shoulders exercises -- it's a lift up...

Cary Sakaki, Boston Sports Club
"You want to lift height and right back down..."

But for people, who feel going to the gym is just not enough, that is where medical advancements can help...

Dr. Michael Kaminer, Skincare Physicians of Chestnut Hill
"We can take a little bit of fat and make someone's arms look a lot slimmer."

Dr. Michael Kaminer, who performs liposuction, says treating the arm is steadily growing in popularity.

Dr. Michael Kaminer, Skincare Physicians of Chestnut Hill
"The fat removal takes about a 1/2 hour to an hour and that's it."

Like all lipo procedures, this is how it works, fat is vacuumed out of a small incision with a tool called a cannula.

Dr. Michael Kaminer, Skincare Physicians of Chestnut Hill
"We're all done, you did great."

A typical patient has between a one half to a pound of fat removed from each arm, giving a sleeker firmer look. This type of liposuction is designed for people in a healthy weight range.

Dr. Michael Kaminer, Skincare Physicians of Chestnut Hill
"’Cause the skin will just snap right back."

In some cases extra fat is not the issue and too much skin is. Boston plastic surgeon Dr. William Adams says a procedure called an armlift can help…

Dr. William Adams, Adams Center
"An armlift is a tailoring procedure."

Typically it's for people, who have lost a significant amount of weight, and have excess hanging skin.

Dr. William Adams, Adams Center
"As more gastric bypasses are being done and people are losing weight, the arm is an area where you can have excess skin."

The armlift is done by cutting off the extra skin and sewing the arm back up.

Dr. William Adams, Adams Center
"The most significant factor is the scar that runs down on the inside of the arm."

A deterrent for many people considering the operation...

Dr. William Adams, Adams Center
"That is what discourages most people from having the surgery is the visible scar."

But experts say even if you have some help, it's a good idea to keep working out...

Dr. Michael Kaminer, Skincare Physicians of Chestnut Hill
"As long as they’re committed to keeping their weight stable and they work out a little bit, they’ll get a great result."

So which ever you choose, "Amazing Arms" can be within your reach.

Arm liposuction generally starts at about $4,000, while an armlift can cost between $4,000 and $8,000.

For more information:

Boston Sports Club
Cary Sakaki-Personal Trainer
1 Bulfinch Place
Boston, MA 02114
617-624-9600
www.mysportsclubs.com

Dr. Michael Kaminer
Skin Care Physicians of Chestnut Hill
1244 Boylston Street, Suite 302
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-731-1600
www.skincarephysicians.net

Dr. William Adams
The Adams Center-Boston
18 Newbury Street, 4th floor
Boston, MA 02116
617-262-2208

The Adams Center-Peabody
4 Centennial Drive, Suite 202
Peabody, MA 01960
978-531-0550
www.adamscenter.com